THE DAY EVERYONE CAME TO STARE AT A BLANK SPOT ON THE WALL

ON THIS DAY IN 1911 - 8 days after the theft of the Mona Lisa, the Louvre re-opened. The New York Times reported “Everyone entering the museum went to the Salon Carre to stare at the vacant space on the wall where the masterpiece had hung and to discuss the theft.”

Thirty inspectors and three sub-sergeants were placed in rooms designated by Museum Director Homolle.

Around noon, 80 people were in the Salon Carre. A woman placed a bouquet of roses at the spot where the Mona Lisa had hung. They were removed immediately by a museum employee. Even Franz Kafka would make the pilgrimage to the museum to stare at the "mark of shame."

The spot remained empty until January 7, 1912 when the Louvre filled the space with Raphael's portrait of Count Baldassare Castiglione who had once written a poem about the Mona Lisa.

Raphael's Baldassare Castiglione